Lionsgate to distribute 'Money'

SANTA MONICA, Calif., April 30 (UPI) -- Lionsgate says it has acquired the U.S. distribution rights to the big-screen adaptation of Janet Evanovich's popular novel "One for the Money."

Former "Grey's Anatomy" star Katherine Heigl will play the main character of New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum in the film, which "The Last Song" director Julie Ann Robinson is directing.

Lionsgate said it has acquired the U.S. distribution rights from Lakeshore Entertainment and Sidney Kimmel Entertainment.

Lakeshore's Elisabeth Costa de Beauregard and Nick Meyer's Sierra Pictures are jointly handling the movie's international distribution.

The announcement was jointly made Thursday by Joe Drake, Lionsgate's chief operating officer and motion picture group president; Tom Rosenberg, Lakeshore Entertainment's chairman and chief executive officer; and Sidney Kimmel, Sidney Kimmel Entertainment's chairman.

Lakeshore's Tom Rosenberg and Gary Lucchesi are producing with Sidney Kimmel and Wendy Finerman.

Mike Paseornek, Lionsgate's president of motion picture production, will oversee the production for Lionsgate.

"We're very excited to join our friends at Lakeshore and Sidney Kimmel Entertainment in bringing 'One for the Money' to the big screen," Paseornek said in a statement. "And we're delighted to be working again with Katherine Heigl, who is the perfect actress to play Janet Evanovich's smart, gutsy and funny heroine."

The producing team previously worked with Heigl on the 2009 comedy "The Ugly Truth."